If you have read some of my previous blogs, there are multiple times where you see that I've talked about faith. The concept of faith is one of the hardest things to grasp as believers and even for those who are just learning about their identity in Christ.
This is why I wanted to give some instruction about faith and how to constantly trust in God, even when things seem too difficult for our own comprehension.
Before we get into how to have faith, let's talk about what faith actually is.
Hebrews 11:1 describes Faith as the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.
We all have something that we believe in, even if there is no physical evidence of it being true. Whether it is something that could happen in the future like a dream that we have, or getting something as a reward. As children, we believe in Santa Clause or the Tooth Fairy. The only evidence of that belief is when we get that $1 bill under our pillow, or presents under the tree when we wake up the next morning.
These examples are great representations of having faith.
When having faith in God, we are having full trust in His promises to us. We not only have hope in receiving those promises, but we believe even without proof or evidence.
As believers in Christ, we have a full understanding of God's love. The fact that He sent His son to die on the cross for our sins is the evidence of that love for us. Having faith in God is believing without a shadow of a doubt that His love for us extends to our salvation from sin. The belief that if we ask for forgiveness and accept Christ as our personal savior, we will be saved from death and will enter into the kingdom with Him. When we have faith in God we are not believing that His word COULD be true, but believing that His word IS true.
The concept of faith seems pretty simple. All you have to do is believe in something. Right?
Well, what about when life is just tough?
How do I have faith when things in my life are going wrong?
We love to rely on and trust in God when things are easy. We praise and give thanks, or just don't even acknowledge Him when our life is peaceful, but when storms come we wallow in self-pity, we worry, and we cry out to God constantly. However, the test of our faith comes when things are the hardest.
When we are in these storms, what would it be like if we just put our faith completely in God? Do we allow ourselves to get rid of our fears and let God take over, or do we cry and ask God for help and still overthink everything?
I know there have been plenty of times where I have said I trusted in God, but listen to others' opinions and advice instead of seeking after God's.
The bible says that" God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind" [1 Timothy 1:7]. When we think too much about the problems we face and not of the victory that God has said He already bestowed over our lives, we are destined to fail.
When we put our faith into God through our situations, we are having full belief that God WILL bring us out, that the outcome IS going to be for our benefit. For the Lord says that He will never leave us or forsake us. So as believers, we should Trust that His word is true.
Think of it like this, you cannot believe in one part of the bible. Either you believe in the whole thing, or none of it. So have Faith that God will bring you out of your pain, your financial stress, or even your loneliness.
God doesn't require a large amount of faith. Luke 17:6 talks about the amount of faith it takes. The small size of a mustard seed is a symbol of how much God can move, even with the little amount of faith that we can give Him. God loves us so much that He declared victory over our lives. All we have to do is put our lives in His hands.
Deuteronomy 20:4 says "For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory". Your identity, your story has been written for you. All you have to do is step into your purpose and trust that God will fulfill His plan over your life.
Stay Blessed. Be Blessed.
~Arshawna